Obituary of Alice Evelen Ritchie

Alice Evelen Ritchie passed away at Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Friday, May 29, 2015 at the age of 82 years. Alice is loved and remembered by her husband Bill; three daughters: Brenda (Reid) Findlay, Karen (John) Shane, Sharen (Rod) Scammell; eight grandchildren: Kirsten (Aron) Halter, Kent Findlay, Matthew (Alyssa) Scammell, Michael Scammell, Cory Scammell, Ritchie Shane, Carson Shane and Dylan Shane; three great grandchildren: Brooklyn and Briella Scammell and Brayden Halter; two sisters: Irene Strong and Vi Young (Lawrence Onishenko) and all her nieces and nephews. Eulogy Good Afternoon. I am Alice Ritchie’s niece Darlene. Aunt Alice and my Dad, Gus, were brother and sister Alice Evelen Hippe was born to Robert and Mary Hippe Jan. 4, 1933 in Sibbald, Alberta. The Hippe family moved to a farm west of Blackfoot, Alberta in 1935 where Auntie Alice grew up with 6 older brothers and 3 younger sisters. Schooling was taken in Blackfoot and Kitscoty. Auntie Alice attended nursing school where she first became a nurse’s aide and then went to nursing school in Essendale, British Columbia where she earned her psychiatric nursing diploma. Uncle Bill harvested together with Auntie Alice’s brother Ferd and it was through Uncle Ferd that they met. Auntie Alice and Uncle Bill were married on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. They were blessed with 3 daughters, Brenda in 1960 and Karen and Sharen in 1961. When the twins were born, Uncle Bill took Auntie Alice to the hospital and went back home to do the morning chores (husbands were not allowed in the delivery room then). The hospital could not get a hold of Uncle to let him know that the twins were born. The hospital called a neighbor who then came over and filled Uncle in with the news. Uncle Bill thought the neighbor was trying to pull his leg and the neighbor had to convince Uncle Bill he really was the father of twins. When Uncle Bill came back to the hospital Auntie Alice asked Uncle Bill what are we going to do with two babies and Uncle Bill said ‘We will keep them’!! With an older sister looking for attention, we are sure this made for a busy household. Brenda was sent out with Uncle Bill to help (?) with chores whenever possible. Auntie Alice was a wife and mother who was organized and made the household tick. There was always a big garden, cow’s milk to be separated morning and night (and washing and sterilizing that separator) butter was made, bread and buns were made, and pie and pie and pie and more pie!! Homemade ice cream and the wine… dandelion, chokecherry, rhubarb!! Lunches were made fresh in the morning for the girls to grab on the way to the bus. On the way home from town on piano lesson day (Thursdays) the girls would always ask “What’s for supper?” Auntie always had an answer – the favorite answer being hamburger and rice casserole. “Yeah”! Auntie was a great cook. In different visits this past week, this was always brought up. Absolutely everything she made was delicious (except for liver and onions in Sharen’s opinion), and it always seemed to be made with little effort. Auntie Alice was actively involved in community groups and her church. Being part of a community and church made for many great lasting friendships. Auntie and Uncle enjoyed travelling as well. There were a few trips with air travel. Their first air travel holiday to Hawaii with good friends Gordon and Verley and the Nobles and Draves’ was much enjoyed. Later trips to Germany, Arizona and one bus trip to Mexico (where Uncle said ‘next time I’ll drive!’) There were many driven trips exploring our country... Eastern Canada, PEI, Churchill (which also included train travel), Alaska and on and on. More recently they went to Vancouver with Heather, their neice, to visit a cousin of uncle’s. In January of 2014 Auntie came along with me to Penticton to celebrate her sister Irene’s 80th birthday. They enjoyed taking in activities locally celebrating occasions or local concerts. And let’s not forget the ball and hockey games, school and 4-H activities for their grandchildren. They would be there cheering them on. Auntie Alice and Uncle Bill moved in to the Pioneer Lodge in January of 2011. Auntie said the lodge is full of great people, laundry and cleaning is done, meals are prepared, what’s not to like about this place. Auntie Alice liked and kept things simple. She did not like clutter, if something was worn out or not being used anymore it went out, if something new came to the house the old went out. Her wishes were for her funeral to be that too. She wanted things simple with the focus on the cross. For as long as Auntie has talked about her funeral she always made sure the girls knew she only wanted a single rose on her casket. This too is a reminder of the love between Auntie and Uncle. Many times uncle would be in town and bring home a single rose for his wife…oh… how he loved her. Auntie Alice was a faithful Christian woman, thankful to be able to serve her Lord. Although Auntie’s heart was physically less than perfect, her humble heart burst with love for Jesus her Saviour, Uncle Bill and her family. These thoughts were written by Brenda, Karen and Sharen and now I want to share my memories and thoughts. Auntie Alice was a big part of my life. I am honored today to share memories of a beautiful woman that not only was my aunt, but a mentor to me. She loved family. Aunt Alice was an extremely positive influence in my life from a young age when she picked me up to attend Vacation Bible School to my last conversation on the phone with her. Last time I chatted with Auntie she told me about the Pioneer Lodge Mother’s Day Tea. She was so excited that all the Mothers dressed in their finest clothes, hats and even gloves!!! And the scrumptious goodies that they were served, even homemade fudge!!! The Bill and Alice Ritchie family and the Gus and Irene Hippe family shared countless times together. We were excited to go to the farm, there was always an adventure to be enjoyed like potato planting, weeding, hilling and harvesting and the bonanza at the end…POTATO PANCAKES!!! THEN we would be off playing in the barn, helping milk cows and watching Uncle Bill squirt the kittens with milk. We played silly games like Spin the Bottle, Pin the Tail on Uncle Bill and Button Button. We sang songs, put on skits, told stories, BUT mostly laughed and laughed. Auntie would always want me to tell “THE MABEL STORY” I was known for… just maybe at lunch today I could be coaxed to tell it once again in memory of Auntie’s unfailing support and her laughter of the silly story. Food was and is a big part of the Hippe family. Aunt Alice was an awesome cook. She could make any food item into the most desirable taste that you could imagine. I believe it was the farm cream and homemade butter plus her love that could turn food into a delightful experience. A few years ago I was blessed with having my four Hippe Aunties, Alice, Irene, Vi and Doris and two cousins, Brenda and Carol, come to my home for a visit and lunch. I was SO excited that my Aunties were coming to Elk Point!!! AND I could cook for them!!! AND they would sit at our kitchen table!!! My meal was very modest but the compliments were flowing from them to me. It is a memory that I will cherish forever. Family reunions were a big part of Aunt Alice’s life. She believed in reunions to build family ties and for cousins to get to know each other. Auntie was thrilled when Carol, Brenda, Sharen and I organized a Hippe Reunion 7 years ago in Blackfoot. She helped with Auntie Vi to pass on the torch. They assisted us with inviting relatives, choosing the venue and coming with bells on!!! We definitely had fun, spent time getting to know our relatives and danced up the Hippe Hippe Shake!! Aunt Alice laughed and enjoyed watching her silly nieces and nephews!! Last summer I was honored to have two of my Aunties, Alice and Vi along with Uncle Bill, Lawrence, Sharen, Brenda and Reid come to my 60th birthday party and Kozicky Family Camp. Again I experienced family members united for a celebration! Aunt Alice was a Wife, Mother, Mother-in law, Sister, Sister in Law, Aunt, Great Aunt, Grandma, Great Grandma, friend and neighbor. Auntie was truly blessed to experience life to the fullest with all the people in her life. She was a honorable woman, was honest and fun loving. Auntie Alice was interested in the news of the day, the weather, the crops, the city, the country, you name a topic and she was willing to talk about it. BUT mostly she was interested and cared about YOU!! She genuinely cared to ask how YOU were doing, how your children and your family were. When I would ask how she was, most times she’d say “you know Darlene, that heart of mine”…never complaining, always interested to hear how me and my family were doing. Aunt Alice and Uncle Bill were married for over 56 years! A beautiful testament to love! I learned from them , how a loving, married couple lived harmoniously. The Bible verse that reminds me of their marriage is: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance ... love will last forever! Uncle Bill and Aunt Alice lived their Married Christian Lives to the fullest as A Loving Husband and Wife. Aunt Alice was an adoring mother to her three treasured daughters and their husbands. She glowed while she gave updates on her grandchildren’s lives and beamed with love for her great grand children……Alice will live on in her daughter’s lives and their children for generations. Alice Evelen Ritchie was loved by so many. We will miss her dearly. She has left a legacy of love and caring for all of those that knew her. God Be With YOU till we meet again.